Thursday, May 13, 2010
Roots The Underground 9 Studio
Posted by Danielle Look on Thu, May 13, 2010 at 7:23 AM
At the back of the charming Bookmama’s bookstore in Irvington, an imaginary portal to the New York underground culture unsuspectingly awaits your discovery. Through the doorway, a stairwell lined in red brick immediately escorts visitors down a flight of cast iron steps; the first one will clank as you step on it, but the remainders are as solid as the foundation on which they rest.
- The Marilyn Sojourn
The studio walls are decorated with local art and vinyl records. Countless shelves of books line the exterior of the room. To the left, a carpeted living area is occupied by various breeds of overstuffed arm chairs. To the right, actual auditorium seats from the Civic Theater (now the Toby) have been permanently installed. Attention shifts naturally to a small risen stage in the far corner, undoubtedly the focal point of the room.
The space belongs to Carol Cody and Jan Flexon, the two permanent figures in the ever-evolving local music group The Dancin’ Nancys. The need for a studio of this caliber arose two years ago when the Studio School and Gallery in Irvington closed and Flexon was forced to relocate. After finding the unfinished basement room beneath Kathleen Angelone’s bookstore, Flexon asked friend and fellow band mate Cody to go in with her on the transformation venture.
Cody, an installation art specialist, joined the project with little coercing from Flexon. With both women having spent numerous years as residents of New Jersey, their vision was to recreate the hip, yet secretive, look and feel of underground cellars and clubs they had experienced in New York. Furthermore, brightly painted pipes, vintage traffic signs, and mood lighting leverage the underground vibe to create the feel of “an abandoned subway station that never existed”.
Since completion, the studio has opened to the public and hosts a broad spectrum of arts, music, and cultural events. The most popular of these is the twice-a-month Open Mic Night. One session, expressly for writers, is named The Mad Hatter Poet Society and is hosted by Flexon, a published poet. The other session, specifically for musicians, is hosted by The Dancin’ Nancys. Creative minds of all ages assemble on a regular basis to enjoy support and mentorship from Flexon, Cody, and fellow community members.
- The Marilyn Sojourn
Cody notes that programming is always being tweaked as new kinds of events emerge and others are retired- including (but not limited to) drum circles, intimate singer/songwriter concerts (both local and touring), movie nights with classic rock films, and B.Y.O.V. (bring your own vinyl). Visit them in person or online to obtain a Bookmamas and Underground 9 Studio schedule.
Flexon and Cody stay busy, as they both work full time jobs in addition to the production of events at Underground 9 Studio, making music under the moniker The Dancin’ Nancys, and creating visual art of their own. What’s most rewarding for them both, though, is being able to give back to the people of Irvington. The district has a strong sense of community (arguably the tightest neighborhood in the city) and the pair pride themselves on supporting the talented youth that use their space as a recreational home.
Currently, Flexon and Cody eagerly await the Irvington Arts Walk on June 5th, similar to IDADA’s First Friday Art Tour downtown, where they will have the opportunity to showcase the visual and musical fruit of Indianapolis residents who utilize the Underground 9 Studio. For additional information, visit Arts in Irvington's website.
- The Marilyn Sojourn
- Carol Cody & Jan Flexon
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